I just came across this very interesting and excellent article about the legal maze of armed self-defense:
Hot Bullets, Cold Truth – How to prepare for the investigators, lawyers, revenge seekers and media hounds after shooting an attacker in self-defense <—Link (read it!)
If you’ve committed yourself to be accountable for your own safety and survival in a world where bad guys victimize good people, then I would recommend reading this article. If you own a weapon intended to defend yourself and family at home or outside the home, you must commit to a number of things:
1. Training and practice – You must be intimately familiar with how to operate your weapon and be proficient in its use. Can you hit the target? Do you know how to clear a malfunction?
2. Knowing the law – Every state is different. And, 
in some states (which don’t have “preemption” laws), each municipality may have its own unique laws. Know your laws COLD. Know them! And, that does NOT mean asking your friend, who happens to be a police officer. Do your own homework. Use the state’s website and print out the laws. Buy a book like this one (obviously this one applies to Florida only). Click on book image to link. Or do a Google search for a similar book that applies to your state.
3. Mental commitment – Are you REALLY committed to the notion of armed self-defense? Do you REALLY believe you could do it if the SHTF? Have you visualized how you would respond? Do you understand the potential sequellae?
I sincerely hope that none of us is ever forced to defend ourselves in this way. It is a decision with the most dire consequences for all parties involved. Avoidance is best and can often be accomplished via Situational Awareness. Lock your doors (including your car doors when you’re in the car. Use alarms. Be aware of suspicious behavior. Trust your instincts. Don’t do stupid things in stupid places with stupid people at stupid times. Nothing good happens after midnight.
If you haven’t already… go back and click the link to the article at the top of this post. It’s a worthwhile read, I promise.
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Holy smokes! Someone should do a TV special or something about this. The details of this story were incredible! I just hope I’m never put in to the situation where there is an uninvited guest in my house. Too many things to think about. Certainly a life changer if you do shoot somebody.
Hi Justin,
Thanks for your comments. Incidentally, I was in a TV special (CNBC) about the AR-15. If you’re interested, click on the link!
https://thedentalwarrior.com/2013/04/27/cnbc-americas-gun-post-op-analysis/
Or you can skip to the video I made of my section of the show:
http://youtu.be/fWSIoxbemJk
Yes, nice video! Crazy world we live in. Let’s ban dogs because some have killed people. Let’s ban cars because cars have run over people. Kind of like the shoe bomber. He changed the lives of millions of people by making us take our shoes off.
True, Justin. And, back when the shoe bomber thing happened, I said (to many friends), “Just watch… they’ll be an undewear bomber next, and we’ll have to strip down to our skivvies!” Turns out my prediction was nearly dead on. There WAS an underwear bomber, and now we have to virtually strip down (scanners).
I do not currently own a weapon of any sort, but I am considering it once I start a family. Some very good advice here. Thank you.
Your notes really seem like common sense. Of course, as Mark Twain said “Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done.”
It’s concerning that not everyone is taking those precautions if they choose to purchase a gun for safety. I wonder how they’re going to address this as time goes on.
I’m a firm believer in people maintaining their rights and utilizing the necessary means to defend themselves in dire situations; there is also the burden of KNOWING that you are in a life-threatening situation BEFORE you take defensive actions that are equally life threatening! Nice article!
I have to side with the constitution here–as American citizens, we have the right–within state and local legislation–to defend ourselves from those trying to harm us, our loved ones, or our property! When used properly, armed self-defense is a necessary skill to perfect.
I never knew what it felt like to be shot at until I played paint ball! The anxiety is there but luckily not the anxiety of getting killed! But when you are shooting at somebody, your heart is beating fast, things get blurry and I can see how in real life, it could be much worse!